Steve Borthwick’s England have the Calcutta Cup back after five long years but Finn Russell will be kicking himself back over Hadrian’s Wall.

Scotland kingpin Russell missed a last-gasp conversion, to add to two other botched chances, and that was the difference in a cliffhanger of a Test. England skipper Maro Itoje got his hands on his hands on the trophy but Russell put it there.

In a dramatic last quarter fly-half Fin Smith, with his Scottish parents in the crowd, gave England a six-point lead with 10 minutes left on the clock.

But Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe finished off an electric move after Stafford McDowell’s burst through the guts of the England defence with less than a minute left of regular time.

Russell’s kick was out on the touchline but faded wide of the posts and in a frantic spell of added time, England held on – just.

British & Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell was in the stands and if that was a tour audition for Russell he flunked it – but the rest of his game was spot on.

Scotland should have been out of sight by then but England, for the second game on the spin after the 26-25 win over France, rode their luck.

If Borthwick was a gambler, and he definitely is not, last night would have been a good time to buy a ticket.

England were galvanised by their Dad’s Army of Elliot Daly and Jamie George, with 170 caps and  66 years between them, coming off the bench in the second half.

They last had their hands on the Calcutta Cup in 2020 and since then have been subjected to Scottish taunts that the England game was a banker.

This was certainly not pretty but England got the job done just as they had failed to get it done in the autumn.

England dug in because they had to but the truth is they could have been blown away. Their second half defence was superb but Scotland had enough possession to win two games.

They were outscored three tries to one by Gregor Townsend’s side with Russell pulling the strings and Van der Merwe, full-back Blair Kinghorn and wing Kyle Rowe running riot.

The hosts were limited in attack but, with Italy and Wales to come, are still in the title hunt if the French do them a favour and knock over Ireland in a fortnight.

It was a miracle that Scotland only led 10-7 at the break after they dominated the ball and territory but only scored twice.

England’s return of a Tommy Freeman try from one of two visits to the Scots 22 was probably more than they deserved but somehow they were in the game.

Van der Merwe, who had scored six tries against England before this match, turned provider making two Scotland scores before the break.

The 2021 Lion came into the line after three minutes fed full-back Blair Kinghorn before centre Tom Jordan put Stoke-born scrum-half Ben White over.

England were totally exposed defensively then but five minutes later they were on the board after Tom Curry and Ellis Genge went close. Then wing Tommy Freeman showed the big forwards how it is done by burrowing over for his third try of the Six Nations.

Scotland hit back with centre Huw Jones getting his sixth Calcutta Cup try and England were living on their scramble defence.

Then just on half-time,  and out of nowhere, Ollie Lawrence’s bust fed Marcus Smith but the full-back held on to the ball with Freeman screaming for it outside.

All of a sudden after the break Scotland’s discipline went AWOL and they conceded eight penalties in half an hour.

Marcus Smith edged England ahead with two kicks before Fin Smith’s thunderbolt from just in front of halfway. Then Van der Merwe did his usual trick against the English before Russell’s miss. England got away with one here but live to fight another day.